Jury Sees Police Video Where Morales’ Family Learns Of Christine Holloway’s Homicide

MILFORD – Jurors watched a six-minute edited video in court Tuesday where investigators from the Ansonia Police Department tell Jose Morales, his mother, and his stepfather that Christine Holloway is dead.

“We know where Christine is,” an officer tells Morales’ mother in the family living room in New Haven. ​“Christine is dead.”

Morales’ mother puts her hands on her forehead, falls back into her chair and wails. She takes off her glasses, presses her hands into her eyes and cries.

“What happened to her? What happened to her?” she asks the police.

“We’ll let you know this. It’s a homicide,” Detective Sgt. James Frolish says. ​“We’re looking for all the help we can get.” 

In the video, recorded Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, Morales is sitting across from his mother in her living room. Eventually he rests his head on his left hand and leans slightly forward. A Christmas tree can be seen in the corner of the room.

Morales is charged with murdering Holloway, with whom he shared a daughter, inside her Myrtle Avenue apartment in late 2019. Their daughter, 1‑year-old Vanessa Morales, has not been seen since her mother’s body was discovered.

Tuesday (April 15) was the seventh day of testimony in the trial.

Before the video was played in open court, Morales’ lawyer, Edward Gavin, tried to prevent it from being shown.

Gavin said the video was ​“replete with hearsay,” and that police were trying to get Morales’ family to ask him questions that would incriminate him.

“It’s almost like the parents have become agents of the state at that point,” Gavin said.

Allowing the video would result in ​“permanent prejudice” to this client, he said.

However, prosecutor Howard Stein said the video was important not for the emotional response from Morales’ mother – but for the lack of response from Morales himself. It was supposedly the first time Morales had heard that the mother of his young daughter was dead.

“While some people become emotional, Mr. Morales remains flat and completely unaffected by the news that he is receiving, and provides clear, inconsistent statements to questions that are being asked by various speakers,” Stein said.

Judge Shari Murphy overruled Gavin’s objections, which allowed the video to be shown.

In the video, police tell the family that Holloway was found dead in her home. At one point, Morales’ mother says that her son had been in Holloway’s apartment recently. Morales denies this and tells her he was partying at a friend’s house.

Police also tell Morales’ family they recovered a car that Holloway had recently purchased. Jose Morales tells officers he knows about that car – but police point out that he had previously said he knew nothing about a new car.

“I asked you about her buying a new car and you said you knew nothing about it,” Detective Stephen Adcox tells Morales.

“No, I knew about it,” Morales said.

Frolish, who testified in court, also said in the video that police had Morales on video leaving Holloway’s home. Gavin asked Frolish about that statement in court. Gavin pointed out that police had video of Morales’ car leaving Holloway’s street – but that Morales himself isn’t seen in the video.

Jurors were also shown pictures and a report from the autopsy conducted on Holloway. Dr. Michael Hays, who conducted the autopsy at the state medical examiner’s office, testified about the findings.

Holloway had been beaten so badly that most of her brain fell out of her cracked skull. Five of her ribs had also been fractured, Hays said. Her cause and manner of death were listed as homicide by blunt force trauma.

Detectives had also recovered white, solid fragments from the garbage disposal in Holloway’s kitchen, and sent them off for testing. Those turned out to be bone fragments, Hays said.

Gavin objected to the autopsy photos being shown but Judge Murphy overruled him. Stein said the gruesome photos are evidence of Morales’ intent to kill Holloway.

In cross-examination, Gavin pointed out that the medical examiner couldn’t make a determination of who killed Holloway.

“Even based on all your training and experience and all the autopsies that you’ve done, Doctor, you can’t tell us who caused those injuries to Christine Holloway, can you?” Gavin asked.

“No, sir,” Hays said.

Judge Murphy said she expects the prosecution to call one more witness and rest its case tomorrow (April 16). The defense intends to call at least one witness.

Vanessa Morales, now six years old, remains missing. The investigation into her disappearance is ongoing. 

Jose Morales has not been charged in connection to that open case.

The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children released an age-progressed photo of Vanessa:

A $10,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to finding her. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Vanessa should call the Ansonia Police Department at 203 ‑735‑1885.

The following comes from a timeline previously provided by Ansonia police.

Nov. 29, 2019 – Last confirmed contact with Christine Holloway.

Dec. 2, 1 p.m. – Holloway’s employer requests welfare check, no contact.

Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. – Holloway’s family requests a welfare check. Holloway is found deceased in the home, Vanessa Morales missing.

Dec. 2 – Vanessa Morales listed as missing, silver alert issued.

Dec. 3 – Search warrant executed at Jose Morales’ New Haven residence. Morales is arrested by New Haven PD for allegedly possessing two stun guns and held on a $250,000 bond.

Dec. 4 – Amber alert issued for Vanessa Morales.

Dec. 4 – State of Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner rules Christine Holloway’s death a homicide by blunt force trauma.

Dec. 17 – Jose Morales identified as suspect in the death of Christine Holloway and disappearance of Vanessa Morales.

Feb. 7, 2020 – Morales charged with murdering Christine Holloway and tampering with evidence.